This morning my son and I drove from Concord, New Hampshire to Peterborough. We are both living on somewhat fixed incomes - Social Security Disability and whenever I decide to drive my car (paid for in full by participating in Social Security's PASS plan) outside of  what is "local" the REASON NEEDS TO BE IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR ME TO SPEND MY MONEY ON. This morning Ellen Ruppel Shell spoke at the Peterborough Unitarian Church. This morning it was not only important enough for me to spend gas money to travel an hour there and an hour back, it was also important enough for me to wake up earlier than I like to.

It was my minister grandfather's second wife, Alice Keach, who first told me about the Monadnock Summer (2010) Lyceum. Lyceum ? What is that ?! It is something connected with the Unitarian Church in Peterborough, New Hampshire. (My son, Michael Catanzano was born in Peterborough. My grandfather, Rev. Stanley Jordan Keach married a lady who used to attend church at the Unitarian Church in Peterborough.)

So, Alice Keach and my son, Michael were sharing a birthday afternoon eating home-made Pistachio ice cream that I had bought and brought to my late grandparents home in Deering. I was contrasting my life as a part time cashier at Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts .... where I get paid to sell cheap knick knacks made in China, with my full time life , BEING A DESIGNER and ARTIST of beaded jewelry. Alice understood my frustration and anger and told me about CHEAP, The High Cost of Discount Culture. Of course I wanted to go hear what this person had to say !

When I left Deering I still had many questions about this "Lyceum" thing because Alice could not find the 2010 brouchure that had been mailed to her (since she had once been a member at the Peterborough Unitarian Church). I Googled "CHEAP" and either "Peterborough" and/or "Lyceum" and came up with the particular information that I needed. Then I made plans to wake up early and drive my car to Peterborough, New Hampshire Sunday, June 27 because that was when CHEAP was being discussed.

Ellen Ruppel Shell is the author of, "CHEAP, The High Cost of Discount Culture". Her discussion was just a small taste; the research and findings that culminated into CHEAP. CHEAP is so profound that a public radio was at the Unitarian Church recording the message. At the Lyceum I purchased Ellen Shell's book, "CHEAP", which she signed, which immediately makes the book -- the product - more valuable. Any serious collector can tell you that what (they) spend money on needs to have a REASON WHY  (they) find it VALUABLE ENOUGH TO COLLECT. And you better BELIEVE that the collector WILL CONTINUE TO VALUE AND PROTECT THEIR "investment" / "interest" !!! (smirk)